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...So, you like to get your feet a bit wet?

For an activity-packed, nature-filled experience on the water, it doesn’t get much better than this! Join YHA Bay of Islands The Rock Cruise, New Zealand’s biggest houseboat, for a 22-hour overnight cruise in the Bay of Islands. The Rock Cruise offers a warm, homely and stable environment. With a capacity for 36, she’s big enough for groups but small enough too for sole travellers to hook up with like minds and make friends.

For the adventurous at heart

As well as exploring one of the larger of the Bay’s 144 islands on foot, you’ll have time to gather fresh seafood for dinner, to kayak the reefs, snorkel the pristine waters, take part in beach cricket and try some night-swimming.

Alternatively you can just sit back and enjoy the abundance of nature viewed from the Rock Cruise’s observation decks and enjoy a drink in the glorious sunset.

Sometimes even the most independent traveller should hitch a ride

The Rock Cruise’s downstairs living area is spacious complete with a bar, dining area, lounge, pool table, piano and open fire. Outside, the open deck is the ideal platform for onboard activities (target shooting, fishing). Your upstairs cabin guarantees enviable morning views and access to the upper deck. Dinner and breakfast are relaxed – cook up your catch of the day (if you’ve got one!) on the barbie and enjoy the good company of guests and crew. And later on the skipper might even pull out his guitar if you’re lucky...

We know you’ll feel at home from the moment you step aboard

Rates include bed linen, BBQ dinner, breakfast, lunch, and all activities. Just make sure to bring a towel, or let us know you'll need one and you can hire onboard.

Book now! - Follow these steps:

Select YHA Bay of Islands The Rock Cruise from the hostels drop down menu on the 'book a hostel now' graphic

Select the dates on which you wish to do your cruise

Click on the Go button and complete the booking form. *please note this is a booking request form and you will be contacted by our Customer Services Team to confirm your request within 24 hours*

Quote

By Car

To get from Auckland to Paihia, Bay of Islands (approx 3hrs); 1.Take State Highway 1 north out of Auckland. (This is the main North/South Motorway that runs through Auckland.) 2. From Kawakawa the Bay of Islands is signposted. 3.The Paihia Wharf is in the middle of the small township and is easy to spot on your right hand side as you drive into town.

Over half our guests travel north to do The Rock’s Overnight Cruise and many arrive here and realise that this region is a very special part of New Zealand that they haven’t allocated enough time for. So even if you are on a short NZ visit allow at least three days to properly explore this region.

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The Rock Adventure Cruise is an activity-packed, nature-filled experience on the water, perfectly suited for groups, with multi share cabins (sleeping up to 6) and private rooms for tour leaders/teachers. Your group can select from three different cruise options: either the classic 22-hr Rock Overnight Cruise, the 16-hr Bed & Breakfast Cruise or the 6.5hr Day Cruise. Activites include mussel and kina diving, snorkelling, kayaking, target shooting, fishing and exploring the beautiful Bay Of Islands.

"We would like to thank you all for such a lovely time. EVERYONE enjoyed themselves. A big thank you to Rowan & the crew. We've all come home safe & sound with wonderful memories of an excellent cruise in our own backyard, we recommend that more kiwi's should do this. BIG THANK YOU TO THE ROCK CRUISE" - Jerrie

Capacity and Room Types

The Rock Adventure Cruise can cater for up to 36 people across 8 cabins.

Room types available (and prices based on the classic 22-hr cruise) are:

1 x Double Cabin (1 x double bed)

4 x Family Cabins (each containing 1 x double bed, 1 x bunk bed)

3 x Shared Cabins (each containing 3 x bunk beds)

The accommodation

The Rock is New Zealand’s biggest houseboat and all accommodation cabins are located upstairs, enjoying enviable morning views and access to the upper deck. All cabins have shared bathroom facilities. The Rock’s downstairs living area is spacious and complete with a bar, dining area, lounge, pool table, piano and open fire. The open deck is the ideal platform for onboard activities like target shooting and fishing.

Shared rooms

Group members are accommodated in comfortable 6 bed cabins. All bedding is provided (duvets, sheets and pillows) and towels can be hired for $5 each.

Private rooms

Supervisors and tour leaders can be accommodated in our double or family cabins, with shared bathroom facilities. These rooms include all bed linen and towels can be hired for $5 each. Please note that we have a limited number of private rooms and they are subject to availability.

Meals

BBQ dinner, continental breakfast and a packed lunch are included in the classic cruise price. Meal times are relaxed e.g. overnight cruisers can cook up their catch of the day for dinner on the BBQ (if you’ve got one!). In the morning, the breakfast bell is rung for a traditional kiwi breakfast. The packed lunch is ordered fresh from a local café and we usually take this to enjoy on the beach.